Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive through the Dangers of Leading (Hardcover)

Why? Because real leadership-the kind that surfaces conflict, challenges long-held beliefs, and demands new ways of doing things-causes pain. And when people feel threatened, they take aim at the person pushing for change. As a result, leaders often get hurt both personally and professionally.

In Leadership on the Line, renowned leadership authorities Ronald A. Heifetz and Marty Linsky marshal a half century of combined teaching and consulting experience to show that it is possible to put ourselves on the line, respond effectively to the risks, and live to celebrate our efforts. With compelling examples including the presidents of countries and the presidents of organizations, everyday managers and prominent activists, politicians and parents, the authors illustrate proven strategies for surviving and thriving amidst the dangers of leading:

· "Getting on the balcony": stepping back to get perspective while remaining fiercely engaged

· "Thinking politically": keeping the opposition close, but watching your allies, too
· "Orchestrating the conflict": using stress productively to work the issues

· "Giving the work back": putting the responsibility on those who need to make the change

· "Holding steady": maintaining your focus while taking the heat

The authors also address often-neglected aspects of leadership, such as how to manage your personal vulnerabilities, and how to anchor yourself and sustain your spirit through tough times.

Both uplifting and practical, this essential book enables each of us to lead courageously and confidently-without losing ourselves.

AUTHORBIO: Ronald A. Heifetz and Marty Linsky are on the faculty at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Heifetz is the author of Leadership Without Easy Answers and Co-director of the school's Center for Public Leadership. Linsky is Faculty Chair of many of the school's executive programs, including Senior Officials in State and Local Government and Leadership for the 21st Century.

From the Publisher
 Addresses the common ways in which leaders are “taken out of action,” and spells out how leaders should respond to these dangers, emerging in an enlarged, informed, and self-reflective perspective on leadership.
 A probing yet practical book that combines theory and practice, offering leaders ways of anticipating and handling those dangers in order to survive and thrive.
 Outlines practices that can keep you alive as a leader: for example, don’t isolate yourself, distinguish your role in the company from your self; and respect the pains of change.
 Compact and practical format: Will provide a more personal and practial laying-out of the distinctive Heifetz view of leadership than his earlier book.
 Easy to read: Authors use a variety of stories and examples to illustrate points of argument, including observations based on first-hand experience, adding to the air of authority and accessibility.
 Original: Shows how the physical/personal crucially undergirds successful leadership—i.e., that leading change and one’s own “survival” are of equal importance and must be considered together.

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